Variable lot size load port

ABSTRACT

A variable lot size load port assembly is described having a tool interface, a port door, a latch key, an advance plate, and an elevator. The tool interface extends generally in a vertical dimension and has an aperture. The port door has a closed position wherein the port door at least partially occludes the aperture. The latch key extends from the port door and is configured to mate with a latch key receptacle of a door of a front opening unified pod (FOUP). The advance plate is configured to support a front opening unified pod (FOUP) and translate between a retracted position and an advanced position. The elevator raises and lowers the advance plate to bring the latch key receptacle of the door of the FOUP into alignment with the latch key of the port door.

CLAIM FOR PRIORITY

The present application claims the benefit of earlier-filed andco-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/819,602, filed on Jul.10, 2006, and entitled, “Variable Lot Size Load Port,” which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

CROSS-REFERENCE To RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No.______ (Attorney Docket Number ASCTP143A) and U.S. patent applicationSer. No. ______ (Attorney Docket Number ASTCP143B), both of which aretitled, “Variable Lot Size Load Port,” are filed on the same day as thepresent application, and are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to wafer handling systems.Processing of semiconductor wafers generally requires transportation ofwafers from one process station to another. Due to the sensitivity ofsemiconductor devices to contamination by particulates, it has becomecommon practice to transport wafers in enclosed containers, referred toas front opening unified pods (FOUPs). The term, “FOUP” is used hereinto broadly refer to containers having a front opening that areconfigured to transport substrates to and from process tools. The FOUPdoor mates with a port door of a processing unit, and the doors areremoved providing access by the processing equipment to wafers heldwithin the FOUP.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional 300 mm FOUP 20, which includes amechanically openable FOUP door 22 and a shell 24, which together,defines a sealed environment for storing one or more workpieces locatedtherein. FOUP door 22 includes a front face 31 with two latch keyreceptacles 33.

FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional 300 mm load port assembly 23 fortransferring wafers between the FOUP 20 and a process tool 28. Load port23 attaches to the process tool by a box opener/loader-to-tool standardinterface (BOLTS) plate interface 36 that has an aperture 18. The loadport 23 includes, among other things, a container advance plate 25 and aport door 26. In order to transfer the workpieces between FOUP 20 andprocess tool 28, FOUP 20 is manually or automatically loaded ontoadvance plate 25 so that front surface 31 of FOUP door 22 faces frontsurface 30 of port door 26 while FOUP 20 is seated on advance plate 25.Port door 26 occludes aperture 18 when in the closed positionillustrated in FIG. 2.

The front surface 30 of port door 26 includes a pair of latch keys 32that insert into the corresponding latch key receptacles 33 of FOUP door22 as FOUP 20 is advanced towards the port door 26. An example of a doorlatch assembly within a FOUP door adapted to receive and operate withlatch keys 32 is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,430, entitled“Sealable Transportable Container Having Improved Latch Mechanism,”which is assigned to the Asyst Technologies, Inc., and is incorporatedin its entirety by reference herein. In order to latch FOUP door 22 tothe port door 26, FOUP door 22 is seated adjacent port door 26 so thatvertically oriented latch keys 32 are received within latch keyreceptacles 33.

In addition to decoupling FOUP door 22 from the FOUP shell, rotation ofthe latch keys 32 also locks the keys into their respective receptacles33; coupling FOUP door 22 to port door 26. A conventional load portincludes two latch key 32, each of which are structurally andoperationally identical to each other.

Advance plate 25 often includes three kinematic pins 27, or some otherregistration feature, which mate within corresponding slots on thebottom surface of FOUP 20 to define a fixed and repeatable position ofthe bottom surface of the FOUP on advance plate 25 and load portassembly 23.

Referring to FIG. 3, advance plate 25 is translationally mounted toadvance the FOUP 20 toward and away from the load port 30. Once a FOUP20 is detected on the advance plate 25 by sensors in the load portassembly, FOUP 20 is advanced toward load port 30 in the direction ofarrow A-A until front surface 31 of FOUP door 22 is proximate frontsurface 30 of port door 26 so that the flange of FOUP 20 forms aproximity seal with BOLTS plate 36. The proximity seal provides a smallspace between the BOLTS plate surrounding the port door and the FOUPshell flange at the front edge of the FOUP shell after the pod hasadvanced. This space allows air 19, which is at a higher than ambientpressure within the process tool to sweep away any particulates andprevent particulates from coming to rest on the flange. The proximityseal also ensures that particulates and other contaminants cannot enterthe tool or the FOUP. The higher than ambient pressure is provided by afilter/blower system (not shown) attached to process tool 28 (FIG. 2).

It is desirable to bring the front surfaces of FOUP door 22 into contactwith the front surface of port door 26 and maintain contact to trapparticulates between the doors. Once the FOUP and port doors arecoupled, horizontal and vertical linear drives within the load portassembly move the FOUP door 22 and port door 26 together into theprocess tool 28 so that wafers may thereafter be transferred between theinterior of the pod 20 and interior of process tool 28. In the openposition, port door 26 is translated away from aperture 18 so that it nolonger occludes aperture 18. For example, port door 26 and FOUP door 22may be moved in and then down alongside an interior surface of BOLTSplate 36.

Regardless of the desired relative positions of the FOUP and port doorsafter FOUP advance, it is necessary to precisely and repeatably controlthis relative positioning to ensure proper transfer of the pod door ontothe port door and to prevent particulate generation. In order toestablish the desired relative positions, conventional load portassembly systems rely on the fact that the kinematic pins establish afixed and known position of the FOUP on the load port assembly so that,once seated on the kinematic pins, the FOUP may simply be advancedtoward the load port a fixed amount to place the front surfaces of therespective doors in the desired relative positions.

Many of the components of the load port 30, such as the BOLTS plateaperture 18, the port door 26 and the container advance plate 25, arefixed components—cannot be adjusted. A 300 mm load port 30 is designedto operate only with 300 mm pods 20. Thus, there is a need for a loadport that can accommodate and operate with various sizes of FOUPs.

SUMMARY

Broadly speaking, the present invention overcomes various limitations ofexisting load ports by providing a variable lot size load port asdescribed herein. It should be appreciated that the present inventioncan be implemented in numerous ways, including as a process, anapparatus, a system, a device, or a method. Several inventiveembodiments of the present invention are described below.

In one embodiment, a variable lot size load port assembly is providedhaving a tool interface, a port door, a latch key, an advance plate, andan elevator. The tool interface extends generally in a verticaldimension and has a front surface facing a front of the tool interface,a back surface generally parallel to the front surface, and an aperture.The port door has a closed position wherein the port door at leastpartially occludes the aperture and an open position wherein theaperture is substantially unobstructed by the port door. The latch keyextends from the port door and is configured to mate with a latch keyreceptacle of a door of a front opening unified pod (FOUP). The advanceplate positioned to the front of the tool interface below the apertureand extends generally horizontally. The advance plate is configured tosupport a front opening unified pod (FOUP) and translate between aretracted position and an advanced position, the advanced position beingproximate the tool interface and the retracted position being spacedfrom the tool interface. The elevator raises and lowers the advanceplate to bring the latch key receptacle of the door of the FOUP intoalignment with the latch key of the port door. In this manner, aplurality of FOUPs of varying capacities, each having a latch keyreceptacle at a different elevation can be accommodated by the variablesize load port assembly by varying an elevation of the advance plate.

In another embodiment, a variable size load port assembly includes atool interface, an advance plate, and an upper and lower seal plate. Thetool interface extends generally in a vertical dimension and has a frontsurface facing a front of the tool interface, a back surface generallyparallel to the front surface, and an aperture. The advance plate ispositioned to the front of the tool interface and below the aperture.The advance plate extends generally horizontally to support a frontopening unified pod (FOUP) and is configured to translate between aretracted position a advanced position, the advanced position beingproximate the tool interface and the retracted position being spacedfrom the tool interface. The upper seal plate has an upper end securedto the tool interface and a lower end covering a portion of theaperture, the upper seal plate being shaped to form a proximity sealwith a front flange of the FOUP. The lower seal plate has a lower endsecured to the tool interface and an upper end covering a portion of theaperture, the lower seal plate being shaped to provide a proximity sealwith the front flange of the FOUP, the upper seal plate and the lowerseal plate occluding upper and lower portions of the aperture to form areduced aperture.

In yet another embodiment, a variable size load port assembly includes atool interface, a port door, a latch key, an advance plate, and areplaceable static plate. The tool interface extends generally in avertical dimension and has a front surface facing a front of the toolinterface, a back surface generally parallel to the front surface, andan aperture. The port door has a closed position wherein the port doorat least partially occludes the aperture and an open position whereinthe aperture is substantially unobstructed by the port door. The latchkey extends from the port door to mate with a latch key receptacle of adoor of a front opening unified pod (FOUP). The advance plate ispositioned to the front of the tool interface and below the aperture,extending generally horizontally. The advance plate is configured tosupport a front opening unified pod (FOUP) and translate between aretracted position a advanced position, the advanced position beingproximate the tool interface and the retracted position being spacedfrom the tool interface. The replaceable static plate is mounted to thetool interface and occludes a perimeter portion of the aperture, thestatic plate having a reduced aperture, the reduced aperture having asize and shape to form a proximity seal with a FOUP of a selectedcapacity.

The advantages of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of a FOUP, according to theprior art;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of one embodiment of a load port, accordingto the prior art;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the load port shown in FIG. 2,illustrating various components of the load port in a cross-sectionalview;

FIG. 4 is a front view of one embodiment of a load port;

FIG. 5A is a side cross-sectional view of the load port shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 5B is a detail of an upper portion of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6 is a front view of another embodiment of a load port;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view an embodiment of a load port;

FIG. 8 is a front view of an embodiment of a port door;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the port door shown in FIG. 8 in operation witha small capacity container;

FIG. 10 is a front view of another embodiment of a port door;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a load port,illustrating the port door shown in FIG. 10 in operation with a largecapacity container;

FIG. 12 is a front view of yet another embodiment of a port door;

FIG. 13 is a side view of the port door shown in FIG. 12 in operationwith a small capacity container;

FIG. 14 is a front view of the port door shown in FIG. 12 adapted foruse with a large capacity container;

FIG. 15 is a side view of the port door shown in FIG. 14 in operationwith a large capacity container;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of various embodiments of a static sealplate;

FIG. 17 is an isometric view of various embodiments of port doorextension plates;

FIG. 18 is a schematic view of another embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a schematic view of yet another embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a schematic view of the load port shown in FIG. 19, with anoptional filter attached to the port door;

FIG. 21 is a schematic view of still another embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a schematic view of yet another embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a schematic view of another embodiment;

FIG. 24 is a schematic view of the load port shown in FIG. 23, inoperation with a small capacity container;

FIG. 25A, FIG. 25B and FIG. 25C are a schematic views of embodimentshaving a port door with retractable, repositionable or multiple latchkeys;

FIG. 26 is a schematic view of another embodiment;

FIG. 27A is a schematic view of the load port shown in FIG. 26 inoperation with a small capacity container;

FIG. 27B is a schematic view of an alternate embodiment of the load portshown in FIG. 27A; and

FIG. 28 is a schematic view of the load port shown in FIG. 27A,illustrating the small capacity container coupled to the port door.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 4-6 illustrate a variable lot size load port 100 with static sealplates. In this embodiment, the load port 100 includes, among otherthings, a tool interfaced 102 having an aperture 104 and a containeradvance assembly 106. In one embodiment, tool interface 102 conforms toindustry standards for a Box Opener/Loader to Tool Standard (BOLTS)interface, commonly referred to as a “BOLTS interface” or a “BOLTSplate.” In one embodiment, the aperture 104 is sized to allow 300 mmmwafers to pass through. A conventional tool interface 102 is preferablyuniform in thickness. Here, the tool interface 102 has been modified toaccept various sizes of seal plates for the purpose of adapting the toolinterface to different capacity FOUPs as described in further detailbelow. In this embodiment, tool interface 102 has been machined to forma recessed surface 103, which provides a mounting surface for each sealplate (as described in more detail later).

FIG. 4 illustrates that the tool interface 102 includes a beveledsurface that transitions into a recessed surface 112. FIGS. 5A and 5Bshow a cross section of the tool interface 102 in FIG. 4. The recessedsurface 112 defines the perimeter of the plate aperture 104. Even thoughthe FIG. 4-5 embodiment of the load port 100 is designed to operate witha large capacity FOUP, a static seal plate 108 is mounted to therecessed surface 103. In one embodiment, the large capacity FOUP,contains, e.g., 25 wafers or substrates. In contrast, the small capacityFOUP described below with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, can hold at mostfewer wafers or substrates than the large capacity FOUP, e.g., 8 or 10wafers or substrates. The smaller capacity FOUP is suitable forinstances where smaller lot sizes are used, each lot size being a numberof wafers or substrates being processed as a group. The small capacityFOUPs can therefore save considerable storage space when compared tousing standard 25-wafer FOUPs for the smaller lot sizes, in which caseeach large capacity FOUP may be more than half empty.

To “reconstruct” the plate aperture 104 back into a uniform structure,the seal plate 108 includes its own beveled surface 110′ thattransitions to a recessed surface 112′. In a preferred embodiment, thebeveled surfaces 110 and 110′, and the recessed surfaces 112 and 112′are flush. The seal plate 108 may be affixed to the tool interface 102with any type of fasteners (e.g., bolts, screws, etc.) or by other means(e.g., welded to the BOLTS plate). FIG. 4 illustrates that the plateaperture 104 has a height H1 and a width W1, which in a preferredembodiment, corresponds to the height and width of a conventional loadport aperture.

FIGS. 6 illustrates a seal plate 116. The seal plate 116, similar to theseal plate 108, is mounted to the recessed surface 103 of the toolinterface 102. The seal plate 116 is used when the load port 100operates with a small capacity FOUP 40 (FIG. 7). In this embodiment, theseal plate 116 includes a top portion 124 that mounts to the recessedsurface 103 of the tool interface 102, and a distal end 125 that extendsinto the aperture 104. To “reconstruct” the plate aperture 104 to a sizefor accommodating a small capacity FOUP 40, the seal plate 116 includesits own beveled surface 120 that transitions to a recessed surface 122.In a preferred embodiment, the recessed surface 112 of the toolinterface 102 and the recessed surface 122 of the seal plate 116 areflush. Similarly, the recessed surface 112 of the tool interface 102 andthe recessed surface 122 of the seal plate 116 are preferably flush. Theseal plate 116 may be affixed to the recessed surface 103 of the toolinterface 102 with any type of fasteners (e.g., bolts, screws, etc.) orby other means (e.g., welded to the BOLTS plate). The tool interface 102is not required to have a beveled and recessed surface, However, asshown in FIG. 7, the recessed surfaces 112, 122 allow FOUP 40 to movefarther forward, which may be desirable, e.g.

The seal plate 116 reduces the size of the plate aperture 104 to operatewith a small capacity FOUP 40. FIG. 6 illustrates that the height of theplate aperture 104 has been reduced to a height H2. When the seal plate116 is affixed to the recessed surface 103 of the tool interface 102,the seal plate 116 effectively seals off the portion of the aperture 104located above the recessed area 120. In this embodiment, the width ofthe plate aperture remains at the same width W1, which corresponds tothe width of a conventional load port aperture. The seal plate 116 mayalso reduce the width W1 of the plate aperture 104.

FIG. 7 provides a schematic representation of a small capacity FOUP 40in operation with the load port 100 shown in FIG. 6. In this embodiment,a small capacity FOUP 40 is seated on the support assembly 106 and hasbeen advanced towards the tool interface 102 to a position where theFOUP shell 44 makes a proximity seal with the recessed surface 122 ofthe seal plate 116 and the recessed surface 112 of the tool interface102. The sealing plate 116 effectively seals off, or covers a portionof, the port door aperture 104. The seal plate 116 reduces the amount ofexposure the interior of the processing tool has to the outsideenvironment.

FIGS. 8-11 illustrate one embodiment of a port door 126 that may retainand remove both a small capacity FOUP door 42 and a large capacity FOUPdoor 22. The height of a large capacity FOUP door 22 is not the same asthe height of a small capacity FOUP door 42. For one pair of latch keys132 to operate with both types of FOUP doors, the latch keys 132extending from the port door 126 cannot engage the center of both FOUPdoors. The latch keys 132 preferably extend from the port door face 130at an elevation between the center of the small capacity FOUP door 42and the large capacity FOUP door 22. Here, the latch keys 132 are placedas high up on the port door face 130 as possible that is within theheight of the small capacity FOUP door 42. FIG. 8 illustrates that thelatch keys 132 extend from the port door 126 at an elevation above thecenterline CL1 of the port door face 130 (having a height H3).

FIG. 9 illustrates the port door 126 in operation with a small capacityFOUP 40. The FOUP door 42 includes latch key receptacles (not shown inFIG. 9) that align with the latch keys 132 when the FOUP is seated on acontainer advance assembly. As shown, the latch keys 132 do not engagethe center of the FOUP door 40. FIG. 10 illustrates the port door 126adapted to operate with a large capacity FOUP 20. The port door 126, inthis embodiment, includes an extension plate 140. The extension plate140 is preferably flush with the port door face 130, and may be securedto the port door 126 by any fastening devices known within the art. Theheight of the extension plate H5 increases the effective height of theport door face 130 to a height H4. In a preferred embodiment, the heightH4 is substantially similar to the height of a large capacity FOUP door22.

FIG. 11 illustrates the port door 126 in operation with a large capacityFOUP 20. In particular, FIG. 11 illustrates that the port door face 130and extension plate face 142 are substantially the same height (andsurface area) as the FOUP door face 31. The latch key receptacles in theFOUP door 22, in this embodiment, are located below the center of theFOUP door in order to align with the latch keys 132 extending from theport door 126. After the latch keys 132 retain the FOUP door 22, theport door 126 moves the FOUP door 22 into the tool (shown in hiddenlines).

If the port door 126 did not have the extension plate 140, an upperportion of the large capacity FOUP door face 31 would be exposed whenthe port door 126 is coupled to the FOUP door 22. If this upper surfaceof the FOUP door 22 was contaminated with particles, these particlescould detach from the FOUP door 22 and possibly contaminate wafers beingtransferred between the FOUP 20 and the process tool. The extensionplate 140 therefore traps particles on the FOUP door face 31 andprevents the particles from entering into the tool. The port door 126with an extension plate 140 may also be used to retain and remove asmall capacity FOUP door 42. When the port door 126 engages a smallcapacity FOUP door 42, the face 142 of the extension plate 140 will beexposed. The extension plate face 142 may have particles or contaminantson it that will not be trapped or contained by the FOUP door 42. Butbecause the exposed face 142 of the extension plate 140 will facetowards the interior of the tool interface 102 after the port door 126and FOUP door 42 is lowered into the process tool, the opportunity forcontaminating wafers is small (compared to having the exposed face of aFOUP door in the process tool).

FIGS. 12-15 illustrate another embodiment of a port door 126 that mayalso operate with both a large capacity FOUP 20 and a small capacityFOUP 40. Again, the height of a large capacity FOUP door 22 shown inFIG. 15 is not the same as the height of a small capacity FOUP door 42shown in FIG. 13. In contrast to the FIG. 8 embodiment, latch keys 132extending from the port door 126 engage the center of both types of FOUPdoors. The latch keys 132 extend from the centerline CL1 of the portdoor face 130. FIG. 13 illustrates the port door 126 in operation with asmall capacity FOUP 40. The FOUP door 42 includes latch key receptacles(not shown in FIG. 9) that align with the latch keys 132 when the FOUPis seated on a container advance assembly. Thus, the latch keys 132engage the center of the FOUP door 42.

FIG. 13 also illustrates that the container advance assembly 106 haselevated the small capacity FOUP 40 (e.g., the center of the FOUP ishigher than the standard 900 mm height), so that its latch keyreceptacles (not shown) are aligned with the latch keys 132. By way ofexample only, the port door 126 shown in FIG. 13 is a component of aload port that includes the seal plate 116′ (as shown in FIG. 16).

The container advance assembly 106 may be vertically adjusted eitherautomatically or manually by way of an elevator in order to align thelatch key receptacles in the FOUP door 42 with the latch keys 132. Inone embodiment, the elevator comprises an adapter 107 that may bemanually added between the container advance assembly 106 and thekinematic plate 125 (as shown in FIG. 13). The adapter 107 may haveprecise features so that no adjustments are required after it isattached to the support plate 106.

Alternately, the container advance assembly 106 may be mounted to anautomated elevator. For example, the load port may comprise a DirectLoading Tool, as disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/177,645,which is assigned to Asyst Technologies, Inc., and is incorporated inits entirety by reference herein. In this case, the Direct Loading Toolautomatically adjusts the elevation of the kinemtaic plate 125 dependingon whether the FOUP is a small capacity FOUP 40 or a large capacity FOUP20.

FIGS. 14-15 illustrates the port door 126 adapted to operate with alarge capacity FOUP 20. The port door 126, in this embodiment, includesa first extension plate 144 and a second extension plate 146. The face148 of the extension plate 144 and the face 150 of the extension plate146 are each preferably flush with the port door face 130. Eachextension plate 144 and 146 may be secured to the port door 126 by anyfastening devices known within the art. The height H6 of the firstextension plate 144 and the height of the second extension plate 146increases the effective height of the port door face 130 to a height H4.In a preferred embodiment, the height H4 is substantially similar to theheight of a large capacity FOUP door 22.

FIG. 15 illustrates the port door 126 in operation with a large capacityFOUP 20. FIG. 14 illustrates that the port door face 130, with theextension plates 144 and 146, are substantially the same height (andsurface area) as the FOUP door face 31. The latch key receptacles in theFOUP door 22 are located at the center of the FOUP door 22 in order toalign with the latch keys 132 extending from the port door 126. Afterthe latch keys 132 retain the FOUP door 22, the port door 126 moves theFOUP door 22 into the tool.

FIGS. 16-17 illustrate other embodiments of a static seal plate. Inthese embodiments, each seal plate comprises a single plate with anopening sized to accommodate either a small capacity FOUP or a largecapacity FOUP. Although not depicted here, each seal plate 116′ or 116″may include recessed shoulders at the perimeters of apertures 118′ and118″, e.g., as shown in FIG. 26 at 616 and 614. FIG. 16 illustrates thetool interface 102 with a plate aperture 104. The static seal plate 116′would be used when the load port will operate with a small capacity FOUP40. The seal plate 116′ mounts to the tool interface 102 within theplate aperture 104 by any means known within the art (e.g., bolts). Theseal plate 116′ reduces the size of the plate aperture 104 down to thesize of the opening 118′. In this embodiment, the aperture 118′ islocated in the center of the seal plate 116′. The aperture 118′ can belocated in other locations in the seal plate 116′. FIG. 16 alsoillustrates a static seal plate 116″. The seal plate 116″ would be usedwhen the load port will operate with a large capacity FOUP. The sealplate 116″ mounts to the tool interface 102 within the plate aperture104, and thus reduces the size of the aperture 104 to the size of theaperture 118″. The aperture 118″ in the seal plate 116″ is centered inthe seal plate 116″. The aperture 118″ may, of course, be locatedanywhere in the seal plate 116″. In a preferred embodiment, the heightand width of the seal plates 116′ and 116″ are identical so that theplates may be easily interchanged.

FIG. 17 illustrates various embodiments of an extension plate 140 forthe port door 126. The extension plates 140′ and 140″ allow the portdoor 126 to operate with both a large capacity FOUP 20 and a smallcapacity FOUP 40. The port door 126 includes a base 127 and a raisedlatch key housing 129. The latch key housing 129, which has a depth d1,has a smaller perimeter than the perimeter of the base 127. The latchkeys 132 extend from the latch key housing 129.

The extension plate 140′ has a thickness d2 and includes an aperture128′. The thickness d2 of the extension plate 140′ is preferably equalto the depth d1 of the latch key housing 129. Thus, the extension plateface 144′ is flush with the latch key housing face 131 when theextension plate 140′ is secured to the port door 126. The surface areaof the extension plate face 144′ (plus the housing face 131) ispreferably the same or similar to the surface area of the FOUP door face41. The extension plate 140″ a thickness d3, and includes an aperture128″. The thickness d3 of the extension plate 140″ is preferably equalto the depth d1 of the latch key housing 129. Thus, the extension plateface 144″ is flush with the latch key housing face 131 when theextension plate 140″ is secured to the port door 126. The surface areaof the extension plate face 144″ (plus the housing face 131) ispreferably the same or similar as the surface area of the FOUP door face31.

FIGS. 18-25 illustrate various embodiments of an adjustable seal plate.FIG. 18 illustrates a load port 200. The load port 200 includes, amongother things, a tool interface 202 with a plate aperture 204, a sealplate 208, a port door 226 and a container advance assembly 206. Theseal plate 208 comprises a vertically adjustable seal plate. The toolinterface 202 underneath the aperture 204 includes a beveled surface 210that transitions into a recessed surface 212. The port door 226 shown inFIG. 18 is similar to the port door 126 illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 11.However, the load port 200 is not limited to this port doorconfiguration.

In operation, the small capacity FOUP 40 is placed on the containeradvance assembly 206. The container advance assembly 206 moves the FOUP40 towards the tool interface 202 to the position shown in FIG. 18. Inthis advanced position, the FOUP's top flange 43 is proximate to theport door 226 and the FOUP's bottom flange 45 is proximate to therecessed surface 212 of the plate (as shown in FIG. 18). The FOUP doorface 44 is also located proximate to the port door face 230. The latchkeys (not shown) then unlock and retain the FOUP door 42. It is alsopossible for the flanges 43 and 45 and/or the FOUP door 42 to contactthe port door 226.

The port door 226, when located in the closed position (as shown in FIG.18), occupies most of the aperture 204. The seal plate 208 is adjustablerelative to the tool interface 202 in the direction of the arrow 219.The upper surface 231 of the port door face 230 is exposed to theambient environment when the port door 226 is in the closed position andthe seal plate 208 is located in an uppermost position (not shown). Theseal plate 208 may be lowered to the position shown in FIG. 18 after theFOUP 40 has been moved to the advanced position, before the FOUP 40 ismoved to the advanced position or while the FOUP 40 is being moved tothe advanced position. The seal plate 208 is preferably moved to theposition shown in FIG. 18 before the port door 226 is lowered into thetool. The seal plate 208 moves downward and forms a proximity seal withthe top surface 43′ of the FOUP's top flange 43 and covers the uppersurface 231 of the port door face 230.

After the port door 226 retains the FOUP door 42, the port door 226removes the FOUP door 42 and moves itself and the FOUP door 42 into thetool. The seal plate 208 preferably remains in the lowered positionwhile the wafers are processed; preventing particles from entering intothe tool. The seal plate 208 effectively reduces the size of the plateaperture 204. After the FOUP door 42 is returned to the FOUP 40, thecontainer advance assembly 206 moves the FOUP 40 away from the toolinterface 202. If the next FOUP placed on the assembly 206 is the samesize, the seal plate 208 may remain in the lowered position. Or the sealplate 208 may retract in the direction 219, and is then lowered when thenext FOUP is moved to the advanced position. The adjustable seal plate208 may form a proximity seal with any size FOUP simply by being loweredproximate to the FOUP shell. Thus, the load port 200 may operate withvarious size FOUPs. One disadvantage to the load port 200 shown in FIG.18 is that the port door 226 may strike the FOUP's top flange 43 whenthe port door 226 mates with the FOUP door 42.

FIG. 19 illustrates the load port 200 with another embodiment of anadjustable seal plate 208 and a port door 226. In this embodiment, theseal plate 208 includes a planar surface 212, and a beveled surface 215that transitions into a recessed surface 213. The seal plate 208 movesvertically with respect to the tool interface 102 (as shown by arrows inFIG. 19). The seal plate 208 forms a proximity seal with the front face46 of the FOUP's top flange 43 when the FOUP 40 is located in theadvanced position (as shown in FIG. 19). The FOUP's lower flange 45forms a proximity seal with the recessed surface 212 of the toolinterface 202. The proximity seals allow some air 19 to escape from theback side of tool interface 202, which is maintained at a higher thanambient pressure, thereby preventing particles and other contaminantsfrom entering the process tool.

In operation, the FOUP 40 is placed on the container advance assembly206. While the port door 226 is located in a closed position (as shownin FIG. 19), the FOUP 40 is moved forward to the position shown in FIG.19. The seal plate 208 moves downward towards the FOUP 40 until therecessed surface 213 is located in front of, or adjacent to, the frontsurface 46 of the FOUP's upper flange 43. In a preferred embodiment, theseal plate 208 does not contact the port door 226. The air velocitythrough this proximity seal is preferably high enough to insure that anyparticle located on the FOUP shell's front surface 46 would be sweptinto the ambient environment and not into the tool.

To accommodate the seal plate's beveled surface 215 and recessed surface213, the upper section 242 of the port door 226 has a recessed surface243. The recessed surface 243 is set back from the port door face 230. Aport door typically covers substantially the entire FOUP door face whenthe port door and FOUP door are coupled to trap the particles on theFOUP door and port door. FIG. 19 illustrates that the port door face 230does not cover the entire FOUP door face 31 when the port door 226retains the FOUP door 42. Thus, the port door 226 does not strike theFOUP's top flange 43. The recessed face of the port door creates a gapg1 between the port door's recessed surface 243 and the FOUP door face31. The distance g1 is preferably as small as possible. The gap g1 isdetermined by the thickness of the tool interface 202 and the seal plate208. Thus, the thickness of the seal plate 208 and the tool interface202 are preferably as thin as possible to minimize the distance g1between the port door face 243 and the FOUP door face 31.

Even though the recessed face 243 and the FOUP door face 31 are notflush when the port door 226 is coupled to the FOUP door 42, anyparticles on the exposed portions of the port door 226 or FOUP door 42should not cause contamination of the wafers stored in the FOUP 40. Thelaminar flow of clean air traveling within the process tool typicallytravels vertically from the top of the tool to the bottom of the tool.After the port door 226 moves the FOUP door into the tool, this laminarair flow will prevent the particles within the gap g1 from migratingupwards to the wafers W. In addition, the port door's upper section 242provides a barrier preventing particles within the gap g1 from movingdirectly into the interior of the tool's clean area. The port door'supper section 242 basically shields the FOUP door face 31 from local airturbulence that could dislodge particles on the FOUP door face 31.

FIG. 20 illustrates a blower system 280 that may be incorporated intothe port door 226, which is shown latched to port door 42 at anintermediate position between the open position and the closed position.The blower system 280 improves the cleanliness of the portion of theport door 226 that is exposed to the outside or ambient environment. Theblower system 280, in this embodiment, includes a blower or fan 282attached to a housing 284 with an inlet 286, and a filter 288 forfiltering the air before it enters the housing 284. The blower 280creates an air flow (as shown by arrows in FIG. 20).

The exit 290 of the blower housing 284 preferably comprises a perforatedor porous surface so that gas (e.g., air, nitrogen, etc.) exits thehousing and travels towards the outside environment. The filter 288 maycomprise a removable module or an integral part of the blower 280. Otherdevices for creating air flow are also possible. By forcing clean airout of the housing 284 through the recessed surface 290 (see arrows),the number of particles that attach to the exit surface 290 isminimized, thereby reducing contamination of the clean area inside theprocess tool. Alternatively, air may be pulled into the housing 284(opposite direction of arrows shown in FIG. 20) through the exit surface290, also minimizing the number of particles entering into the tool.

The blower system 280 does not require a fan 282 or a filter 288. Thecleanliness of the exit surface 290 may rely solely on the air flowcreated by the higher pressure gas within the processing tool exitinginto the outside environment. When the exit surface 290 of the blowerhousing 284 is exposed to the outside environment, and thereforesusceptible to particle contamination, the pressure differential wouldforce the clean air from within the process tool through the exitsurface 290 and to the outside environment.

FIGS. 21-22 illustrate yet another embodiment of an adjustable sealplate. The load port 300 includes, among other things, a plate 302 withan aperture 304, a seal plate 308, a container support assembly 306 anda port door 326.

FIG. 21 illustrates the load port 300 in operation with a large capacityFOUP 20. The seal plate 308, in this embodiment, includes a stationaryplate 310 and an adjustable plate 312. The adjustable plate 312 includesa recessed surface 322. The stationary plate 310 includes a recessedsurface 314. The adjustable plate 312 moves vertically (shown by arrows)with respect to the plate 302. Moving the adjustable plate 312 controlsthe size of the plate aperture 304. The stationary plate 310 may alsocomprise a machined surface of the plate 302.

The adjustable plate's recessed surface 322 forms a proximity seal withthe FOUP's top flange 23. The recessed surface 314 of the stationaryplate 310 forms a proximity seal with the FOUP's lower flange 45. FIG.21 illustrates that the surface area of the port door surface 330 is notequivalent to the surface area of the FOUP door 22 even though theheight of the port door is substantially equivalent to the height of theFOUP door. To accommodate the seal plate 308, the port door 326 includesa contact surface 330, a first recessed surface 346 and a secondrecessed surface 348. The latch keys (not shown) extend from the portdoor contact surface 330. The latch key receptacles in the FOUP door 22(not shown) are preferably aligned with the latch keys while the FOUP isseated on the container advance assembly 306.

In operation, the FOUP 20 is seated on the container advance assembly306 and the container advance assembly 306 moves the FOUP to an advancedposition (as shown in FIG. 21). At this position, the FOUP's lowerflange 45 makes a proximity seal with the recessed surface 314 of thestationary plate 310. The adjustable plate 312 moves downward towardsthe FOUP 20 until the recessed surface 322 makes a proximity seal withthe FOUP's upper flange 23. The latch keys unlock and retain the FOUPdoor 22, and preferably pulls the FOUP door into contact with thecontact surface 330. The port door contact face 330 and the FOUP doorface 31 are not required to be in direct contact with each other. Theport door's recessed surfaces 346 and 348 are separated from the FOUPdoor face 31 by a distance d4. The distance d4 may vary. The distance d4simply must be wide enough to allow the seal plate 308 to fit betweenthe port door and the FOUP door.

FIG. 22 illustrates the load port 300 in operation with a small capacityFOUP 40. To accommodate a small capacity FOUP 40, the port door 326 hasbeen lowered (compared to the position shown in FIG. 21) by way ofz-axis actuator 327 until the latch keys align with the FOUP's latch keyreceptacles (which are preferably in the center of the FOUP door 42).Z-axis actuator 327 may be, for example, a lead-screw actuator forraising and lowering port door 326 to align latch key receptacles for aFOUP of a selected capacity. In one embodiment, z-axis actuator 327 isalso used for moving port door 326 from the open and closed position,wherein when closed, the port door 326 at least partially occludesaperture 104 and when open, the aperture is substantially unobstructedby the port door, e.g., by lowering the port door to a position belowand behind aperture 104. A y-axis actuator 329 is used to move port door(along with a FOUP door) into the interior of the process tool so thatboth the FOUP door and port door can be lowered without crashing intothe BOLTS plate.

In the position shown in FIG. 22, the lower section 344 of the port dooroverlaps both the plate 302 and the stationary plate 310. The FOUP'slower flange 45 still forms a proximity seal with the stationary plate'srecessed surface 314. The adjustable plate 312 moves downward until therecessed surface 322 forms a proximity seal with the FOUP's upper flange43. The adjustable plate 312 effectively reduces the height of the plateaperture 304 to substantially the height of the FOUP 40 to preventparticles from entering into the tool 11. In this embodiment, the needfor the port door's recessed surfaces is more apparent. The adjustableplate 312 translates between the FOUP's upper flange 43 and the portdoor's recessed surface 346. The stationary plate's recessed surface 314fits between the FOUP's lower flange 45 and the port door's recessedsurface 348.

In one embodiment, the port door's recessed surfaces 346 and 348 maycomprise a perforated or porous surface. A perforated or porous surfacewould allow clean air to flow through each recessed surface to helpminimize the amount of particles collected on the surfaces 346 and 348.Any device such as, but not limited to, a fan, a filter or the greaterdifferential pressure from inside the process tool enclosure 11 mayprovide the necessary air flow.

FIGS. 23-24 illustrate a load port 400. The load port 400, in thisembodiment, includes a plate 402 with a plate aperture 404, a containersupport assembly 406, a seal plate 408 and a port door 426. The sealplate 408 includes a stationary plate 410 having a recessed surface 414and an adjustable plate 412 having a recessed surface 422. The port door426 includes a front surface 430, and may include extensions 436 and 438(as shown in hidden lines in FIG. 23). The extensions 436 and 438, inthis embodiment, extend a length d3 from the port door 426. Theextensions 436 and 438 may have other lengths. As will be described inmore detail later, the adjustable plate 412 and the stationary plate 410each form a proximity seal with the outer edge of the FOUP's top flange23 and lower flange 25 (as opposed to the front face of each flange asshown in the FIG. 21-22 embodiments).

FIG. 23 illustrates the load port 400 in operation with a large capacityFOUP 20. In operation, a FOUP 20 is set on the container advanceassembly 406, which moves the FOUP 20 towards the plate 402. When theFOUP 20 is in the position shown in FIG. 23, the stationary plate 410forms a proximity seal with the FOUP's lower flange 25. The adjustableplate 412 may be vertically adjusted until the recessed surface 422forms a proximity seal with the FOUP's top flange 23. In thisembodiment, the proximity seal between the seal plate 408 and the upperand lower flanges 23, 25 is formed with the outside surface of eachflange—not the front surface of each flange (as shown in FIG. 21). Forexample, the recessed surface 422 of the adjustable plate 412 forms aproximity seal with the outer or top surface 23′ of the upper flange 23.The recessed surface 414 of the stationary plate 410 forms a proximityseal with the outer surface 25′ of the lower flange 25.

In this embodiment, the port door 426 does not require any recessedsurfaces to accommodate the adjustable plate 412 or the stationary plate410. The front surface 430 of the port door 426 may be substantially thesame height and surface area as the FOUP door 22. The port door 426 ismore like a conventional port door, which will trap more particlesbetween the port door front surface 430 and the FOUP door 22 when theFOUP door 22 and the port door 426 are coupled together.

The extension features 436 and 438 help prevent particles from enteringinto the process tool. Each extension plate overlaps slightly with therespective seal plate. The extension feature 436 overlaps slightly withthe recessed surfaces 422 of the adjustable plate 412 to block orminimize air flow that will otherwise travel within the gap between theport door, the adjustable palte and the seal plate. The extensionfeature 438 overlaps slightly with the recessed surfaces 414 of thestationary plate 410 to block or minimize air flow that would otherwisetravel within the gap between the port door, the stationary plate andthe FOUP's lower flange 25. The extension features 436 and 438 are shownas rectangular structures, but may comprise any shape.

FIG. 24 illustrates the load port 400 in operation with a small capacityFOUP 40. The small capacity FOUP 40 is seated on the container advanceassembly 406. The load port 400 does not need to be modified when, forexample, a large capacity FOUP is removed from the container advanceassembly 406 and then a small capacity FOUP 40 is placed on thecontainer advance assembly, or vice versa. The surface area of the portdoor's front surface 430 is greater than the surface area of the portdoor 42. The port door's front surface 430 overlaps the recessed surface422 of the adjustable plate 412 and the recessed surface 414 of thestationary plate 410 when the FOUP 40 is located in the advancedpositions.

The seal plate 408 operates in the same manner as described in the FIG.23 embodiment above. Once the FOUP 40 is moved to the position shown inFIG. 24, the outer surface 45′ of the lower flange 45 forms a proximityseal with the recessed surface 414 of the stationary plate 410. Theadjustable plate 412 may be adjusted downward until the recessed surface422 forms a proximity seal with the outer surface 43′ of the upperflange 43.

FIG. 25A illustrates a port door 526 with two sets of latch keys 432.The latch keys 432 are shown extending from the port door 526 at anelevation A and an elevation B. In this embodiment, only one set oflatch keys 432 extend from the port door 526 at either elevation A orelevation B—not both elevations. For example, each set of latch keys maycomprise a pair, wherein only one latch key from each pair is visible inFIG. 25A. FIG. 25B shows another embodiment in which a pair of latchkeys 435 is repositionable from one pair of latch key receptacles at afirst elevation and another pair of latch key receptacles at a secondelevation. FIG. 25C shows yet another embodiment wherein latch keys 432extend from the port door 426 at two different elevations at all times.

Referring to FIG. 25A, elevation A corresponds to a preferred elevationwhen the load port 400 operates with a large capacity FOUP 20 (not shownin FIG. 25). Elevation B corresponds to a preferred elevation when theload port 400 operates with a small capacity FOUP 40. For example,elevation A may align with the vertical centerline of a large capacityFOUP door when a large capacity FOUP (see, for example, FIG. 3) isseated on the assembly 406. Likewise, elevation B may align with thevertical centerline of a small capacity FOUP door when a small capacityFOUP 40 is seated on the assembly 406. The vertical centerline for eachFOUP door is the line extending in a horizontal direction that ispositioned at midpoint between the top and the bottom of the FOUP door.

If only one set of latch keys 432 extend from the port door 426, thelatch keys 432 may be moved between elevation A and elevation B eithermanually or automatically. In the automatic configuration shown in FIG.25A, the pair of latch keys 432 may be extended or retracted by amechanism 433, For example, latch key mechanism 433 in the port door 426may be connected to a pivot mechanism (not shown) that would extend thepair of latch leys 432 at elevation A, and at the same time, retract theother pair of latch keys 432 at elevation B.

For manual configuration shown in FIG. 25B, the port door 426 mayinclude four receptacles 437, each for receiving a latch key 435. Tworeceptacles 437 may be located at elevation A and two receptacles 437would be located at elevation B. When a large capacity FOUP 20 is seatedon the advance plate 106, a pair of latch keys 435 would be insertedinto the receptacles 437 located at elevation A. If the next FOUP seatedon the advance plate 106 is a small capacity FOUP 40, then latch keys435 would be manually removed (e.g., by an operator) from thereceptacles 437 located at elevation A and inserted into the receptacles437 located at elevation B, e.g., as indicated by the arrows. In oneembodiment, a single latch key drive mechanism drives all fourreceptacles all the time, regardless of which receptacles the latch keys432 are inserted into. Only the pair of latch keys 432 extending fromthe port door 426 would interface with the latch key holes in the FOUPdoor.

The port door 426 may also have four latch keys 432 extending from theport door at all times as shown in FIG. 25C. A large capacity FOUP doorwould include four latch key receptacles for receiving the four latchkeys. In one embodiment, only two of the four latch keys would operateat a time for unlocking and retaining the FOUP door. The other two latchkeys would act as passive latch keys. If the pairs of latch keys arespaced far enough apart, a small capacity FOUP door may still onlyinclude two latch key receptacles, and only engage two of the four latchkeys extending from the port door.

Each of the adjustable seal plates described above may also be used toprevent particles from contaminating the port door while the load portis waiting for a FOUP. A conventional load port, such as shown in FIG.2, exposes the port door face 30 to the ambient environment while theload port is waiting for another FOUP. During this time, the port door426 may collect contaminants or particles. To avoid or reduce port doorcontamination, the seal plate 208 shown in FIG. 18 (for example) couldbe left in a lowermost position when there is no FOUP seated on thesupport assembly 206. The seal plate 208 may be lowered until itcontacts the recessed surface 210 of the tool interface 202. In thisposition, the seal plate 208 covers the port door face 230 while theload port 200 is not in operation and prevents particles from contactingthe port door face 230. The seal plate 208 does not have to completelycover the port door face 230. The seal plate 208 may be lowered topartially cover the port door face 230. When a FOUP is loaded onto thesupport assembly 206, the seal plate 208 would be raised to correspondto the size of the FOUP.

FIGS. 26-28 illustrate a load port 600. The load port 600, in thisembodiment, includes a plate 602 with a plate aperture 604, a containeradvance assembly 606 and a port door 626. The plate 602 includes arecessed surface (shown as a bottom surface 614 and a top surface 616 inthe cross-sectional view). The port door 626 includes at least one latchkey 632 extending from its front surface 630. In this embodiment, thecontainer advance assembly 606 includes an elevator for verticaladjustment. A vertically adjustable container advance assembly allowsthe load port 600 to align the FOUP's latch key receptacles with thelatch keys 632. In one embodiment, the elevator is implemented using alead screw mechanism 610 (FIG. 26) for elevating container advanceassembly 606. Lead screw mechanisms are well known within the art;therefore no further description is required. Other elevator mechanismsincluding, but not limited to, linear actuators, belt drives, and so on,may also be used to elevate container advance assembly 606 vertically.

FIG. 26 illustrates the load port 600 in operation with a large capacityFOUP 20. In operation, a FOUP 20 is set on the container advanceassembly 606 (located at any height). If the FOUP's latch keyreceptacles are not aligned with the latch keys 632 when the FOUP 20 isset on the container advance assembly 606, the lead screw mechanism 610elevates the container advance assembly 606 until the FOUP's latch keyreceptacles are aligned with the latch keys 632. The container advanceplate 612 then moves the FOUP 20 horizontally towards the plate 602until the FOUP's upper flange 23 and lower flange 25 each form aproximity seal with the plate 602. The port door latch keys 632 unlockthe FOUP door 22 and couple the FOUP door 22 to the port door 626. Theport door 626 then removes the FOUP door 22 from the FOUP 20, and movesthe FOUP door 22 into the tool. The wafers stored in the FOUP 20 maythen be accessed.

FIG. 27A illustrates the load port 600 in operation with a smallcapacity FOUP 40. In this embodiment, a pair of proximity seal plates618 and 620 have been secured to the plate 602 to decrease the height ofthe plate aperture 604. Seal plate 618 is secured to the recessedsurface 614 of the plate 602 by a fastener 626. Seal plate 620 issecured to the recessed surface 616 of the plate 602 by a fastener 628.The seal plates 618 and 620 may be secured to the plate 602 by otherdevices (e.g., bolt, screw, etc.) or may be permanently fastened to theplate 602. If the seal plates 618 and 620 are temporarily fastened tothe plate 620, the load port 600 may be easily and quickly configured tooperate with either a large capacity FOUP 20 or a small capacity FOUP 40by adding and or removing the seal plates 618 and 620.

In operation, a small capacity FOUP 40 is set on the container advanceassembly 606 (located at any height). If the FOUP's latch keyreceptacles are not aligned with the port door latch keys 632 (as shownin FIG. 27A), the lead screw mechanism 610 moves the container advanceassembly 606 upward until the FOUP's latch key receptacles are alignedwith the port door latch keys 632 (as shown in FIG. 28). At this point,the container advance plate 612 moves the FOUP 40 horizontally towardsthe plate 602.

Small capacity FOUP 40 is advanced towards the plate 602 until the topof the FOUP's upper flange 43 of the front flange and the bottom of thelower flange 45 of the front flange each form a proximity seal with aseal plate. The top of upper flange 43 of the front flange forms aproximity seal with the distal end 624 of the seal plate 620. The bottomof the lower flange 45 of the front flange forms a proximity seal withthe distal end 622 of the seal plate 618. It is possible for either thefront surface or top surface of the upper flange 43 or front surface orbottom surface of lower flange 45 to form a proximity seal with the sealplates.

After the latch keys 632 insert into the FOUP door latch keyreceptacles, the latch keys 632 unlock the FOUP door 42 and couple theFOUP door 42 to the port door 626. The port door 626 then removes theFOUP door 42 from the FOUP 40, and moves the FOUP door 42 into the tool.

The lead screw mechanism 610 shown in FIGS. 25-28, or any other actuatorknown within the art, may be used in conjunction with the othercontainer support or container advance assemblies shown in FIGS. 4-25.

FIG. 27B shows an alternative to the embodiment of the load port shownin FIG. 27A. In particular, FIG. 27B includes automated upper and lowerseal plates 638 and 640 that retract into slots 650 and 652,respectively. Automated upper and lower seal plates 638 and 640 areoperated by automated actuators 646, 648. Other configurations for theautomated seal plates are possible, as would occur to those skilled inthe art.

It should be appreciated that the above-described load ports andassociated mechanisms for accommodating and operating with various sizeFOUPs are for explanatory purposes only and that the invention is notlimited thereby. Having thus described a preferred embodiment of amethod of operation and load port system, it should be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that certain advantages of the within system havebeen achieved. It should also be appreciated that various modifications,adaptations, and alternative embodiments thereof may be made within thescope and spirit of the present invention. For example, the load portsand FOUPs have been illustrated and described in context of asemiconductor fabrication facility, but it should be apparent that manyof the inventive concepts described above would be equally applicable tobe used in connection with other non-semiconductor manufacturingapplications.

1. A variable lot size load port assembly comprising: a tool interfaceextending generally in a vertical dimension, the tool interface having afront surface facing a front of the tool interface, a back surfacegenerally parallel to the front surface, and an aperture; a port doorhaving a closed position wherein the port door at least partiallyoccludes the aperture and an open position wherein the aperture issubstantially unobstructed by the port door; a latch key extending fromthe port door, the latch key being configured to mate with a latch keyreceptacle of a door of a front opening unified pod (FOUP); an advanceplate positioned to the front of the tool interface below the aperture,the advance plate extending generally horizontally, and being configuredto support a front opening unified pod (FOUP) and translate between aretracted position and an advanced position, the advanced position beingproximate the tool interface and the retracted position being spacedfrom the tool interface; an elevator for raising and lowering theadvance plate, the elevator being configured to bring the latch keyreceptacle of the door of the FOUP into alignment with the latch key ofthe port door, wherein a plurality of FOUPs of varying capacities, eachhaving a latch key receptacle at a different elevation can beaccommodated by the variable size load port assembly by varying anelevation of the advance plate.
 2. The variable lot size load portassembly of claim 1, further comprising: an upper seal plate having anupper end secured to the tool interface and a lower end covering aportion of the aperture, the upper seat plate being shaped to form aproximity seal with a front flange of the FOUP; and a lower seal platehaving a lower end secured to the tool interface and an upper endcovering a portion of the aperture, the lower seal plate being shaped toprovide a proximity seal with the front flange of the FOUP.
 3. Thevariable lot size load port assembly of claim 2, wherein the upper sealplate forms a proximity seal with a top of the front flange.
 4. Thevariable lot size load port assembly of claim 2, wherein: the toolinterface includes a continuous recessed shoulder extending around theaperture; the upper seal plate is mounted to the recessed shoulder,extends down, and terminates just above a top edge of the front flangeof the FOUP to form the proximity seal with the front flange of theFOUP; and the lower seal plate is mounted to the recessed shoulder,extends up, and terminates just below a lower edge of the front flangeof the FOUP to form a proximity seal with the front flange of the FOUP.5. The variable size load port assembly of claim 4, wherein the portdoor is sized to fit within an aperture that is smaller than the reducedaperture formed by the tool interface and the seal plate, the variablesize load port assembly further comprising: an upper extension plateattached to the port door, the upper extension plate extendingvertically up from the port door to occlude an upper portion of theaperture when the port door is in the closed position; and a lowerextension plate attached to the port door, the lower extension plateextending vertically down from the port door to occlude a lower portionof the aperture when the port door is in the closed position.
 6. Thevariable size load port assembly of claim 1, wherein the advance plateis positionable directly on a container advance assembly and theelevator comprises an adapter positioned between the container advanceassembly and the advance plate, the adapter being configured to elevatethe advance plate to a higher elevation than the advance plate would beat when positioned directly on the container advance assembly.
 7. Thevariable size load port assembly of claim 1, wherein the elevatorcomprises an automated actuator for raising and lowering the advanceplate.
 8. The variable size load port assembly of claim 7, wherein theelevator comprises a lead screw mechanism.
 9. The variable size loadport assembly of claim 1, further comprising a replaceable static platemounted to the tool interface, the static plate occluding a perimeterportion of the aperture, the static plate having a reduced aperture, thereduced aperture having a size and shape to form a proximity seal with aFOUP of a selected capacity.
 10. The variable size load port assembly ofclaim 1, further comprising an extension plate mounted to the port door,the extension plate having an internal aperture through which the latchkey extends, the extension plate extending vertically up from the portdoor and down from the port door to occlude at least upper and lowerportions of the aperture not occluded by the port door, the extensionplate having a size and shape matching a size and shape of a door of aFOUP of a selected capacity.
 11. A variable size load port assemblycomprising: a tool interface extending generally in a verticaldimension, the tool interface having a front surface facing a front ofthe tool interface, a back surface generally parallel to the frontsurface, and an aperture; an advance plate positioned to the front ofthe tool interface and below the aperture, the advance plate extendinggenerally horizontally, and being configured to support a front openingunified pod (FOUP) and translate between a retracted position a advancedposition, the advanced position being proximate the tool interface andthe retracted position being spaced from the tool interface; an upperseal plate having an upper end secured to the tool interface and a lowerend covering a portion of the aperture, the upper seal plate beingshaped to form a proximity seal with a front flange of the FOUP; and alower seal plate having a lower end secured to the tool interface and anupper end covering a portion of the aperture, the lower seal plate beingshaped to provide a proximity seal with the front flange of the FOUP,the upper seal plate and the lower seal plate occluding upper and lowerportions of the aperture to form a reduced aperture.
 12. The variablesize load port assembly of claim 11, wherein: the tool interfaceincludes a continuous recessed shoulder extending around the aperture;the upper seal plate is mounted to the recessed shoulder, extends down,and terminates just above a top edge of the front flange of the FOUP toform the proximity seal with the front flange of the FOUP; and the lowerseal plate is mounted to the recessed shoulder, extends up, andterminates just below a lower edge of the front flange of the FOUP toform a proximity seal with the front flange of the FOUP.
 13. Thevariable size load port assembly of claim 11, further comprising anelevator for raising and lowering the advance plate so that a door ofthe FOUP is aligned with the reduced aperture.
 14. The variable sizeload port assembly of claim 13, wherein the advance plate ispositionable directly on a container advance assembly and the elevatorcomprises an adapter positioned between the container advance assemblyand the advance plate, the adapter being configured to elevate theadvance plate to a higher elevation than the advance plate would be atwhen positioned directly on the container advance assembly.
 15. Thevariable size load port assembly of claim 13, wherein the elevatorcomprises an automated actuator for raising and lowering the advanceplate.
 16. The variable size load port assembly of claim 15, wherein theelevator comprises a lead screw mechanism.
 17. A variable size load portassembly comprising: a tool interface extending generally in a verticaldimension, the tool interface having a front surface facing a front ofthe tool interface, a back surface generally parallel to the frontsurface, and an aperture; a port door having a closed position whereinthe port door at least partially occludes the aperture and an openposition wherein the aperture is substantially unobstructed by the portdoor; a latch key extending from the port door, the latch key beingconfigured to mate with a latch key receptacle of a door of a frontopening unified pod (FOUP); an advance plate positioned to the front ofthe tool interface below the aperture, the advance plate extendinggenerally horizontally, and being configured to support a front openingunified pod (FOUP) and translate between a retracted position a advancedposition, the advanced position being proximate the tool interface andthe retracted position being spaced from the tool interface; and areplaceable static plate mounted to the tool interface, the static plateoccluding a perimeter portion of the aperture, the static plate having areduced aperture, the reduced aperture having a size and shape to form aproximity seal with a FOUP of a selected capacity.
 18. The variable sizeload port assembly of claim 17, further comprising an extension platemounted to the port door, the extension plate having an internalaperture through which the latch key extends, the extension plateextending vertically up from the port door and down from the port doorto occlude at least upper and lower portions of the aperture notoccluded by the port door, the extension plate having a size and shapematching a size and shape of a door of a FOUP of a selected capacity.19. The variable size load port assembly of claim 17, further comprisingan elevator for raising and lowering the advance plate so that the doorof the FOUP is aligned with the reduced aperture.